THE TRUTH ABOUT COMMON FITNESS MYTHS

Are you new to the fitness scene? Perhaps you’re the captain of the school volleyball team or just starting out in yoga. Either way, you’ve decided to make a commitment to your health! Whether you classify yourself as a beginner, or a workout pro, it is important to realize that there are a lot of workout myths that people accept as truths. Along your fitness journey, you will hear a lot of advice about exercise, whether you’re talking with your friends, reading magazines, or hanging out in the gym. However, not all of these may be true!

If you want to be successful at staying fit, it’s important to know the difference between fitness fact and fiction! If there is one thing we can all agree on, it’s that exercise is a key factor for living a healthy lifestyle. However, there are a bunch of misconceptions about working out, don’t let yourself be fooled! 

Truth: How much water should you drink everyday? It’s a simple question we all seem to be asking, with no simple answer. The “Drink eight glasses of water everyday” rule has floated around forever. Why? Simply because it is easy to remember.  In truth, your hydration needs depend on a number of factors, like where you live, your current state of health, how active you are and your size and weight. And because these factors vary between all of us, it is safe to say that there is no single formula that fits perfectly for everyone. Generally speaking, you should drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, every day. 

Truth: The truth behind this myth really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. There is no magic order when it comes to exercise. Keep in mind that the order you choose will have an affect on your available energy during your workout. So, if you’re looking to burn calories, cardio before resistance training will be your best bet - due to the fact that weight training can fatigue your muscles at a faster rate. But, if you’re looking to increase muscle size and strength, this is best accomplished by lifting weights first

Truth: Can you exercise too much? The answer is yes! When the amount of exercise exceeds the amount of time the body needs to recover, we can actually end up harming ourselves rather than helping. Working out too much can lead to injuries, exhaustion, and sometimes even worse effects. For most people, 30 minutes of moderate exercise, 5 days a week can maintain good health, improve fitness and increase energy levels.